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179 [1900
dust-tight, but on the contrary were very frequently loose and with considerable
crevices between them, which, of course, allowed the water to be contaminated
either with the spillings from chamber slops, or with the dirty water used in washing
the floors, or with the dust that fell through when the rooms were swept.
That in No. 8 Sanitary District (Inspector Metcalfe's) some cisterns were
similarly placed.
That in No. 9 Sanitary District (Inspector Irving's) a similar state of affairs
existed.
That in No. 10 Sanitary District (Inspector Watson's) cisterns have been
found in washhouses, the roof being the only cover; while in some houses (Baxter
Road and Norfolk Road) they were placed in cavities directly over exceedingly
foul brick dustbins ; and that in some instances they were discovered under the landing
floors, the latter being their only coverings. In these places the putrid bodies
of mice have been found ; and that in one instance (Newington Green Road) the
cistern was placed under the floor of an upper W.C., and that the water was filthy.
The tenants did not know of its existence. The water was analysed by your
Public Analyst, and was found to be contaminated with foecal matter. The
tenants, it will be no surprise to learn, suffered from sores on the body, the result
of blood poisoning.
That in No. 11 Sanitary District (Inspector Fortune's) the majority of the
cisterns are approached from the landing windows, Their covers being always
exposed to the weather, soon decay, and in consequence small animals have found
their way into them and were drowned. In one instance where three fatal cases of
enteric fever had occurred (Windsor Street, Essex Road), the cover of the cistern
was broken, and a ham bone, presumably carried thither by a cat, had fallen
through and fouled the water.
That in No. 12 Sanitary District (Inspector Preston's) many cisterns were
placed over the W.C.'s.
That in No. 13 Sanitary District (Inspector Rolfe's) they have been discovered in
many and various places, and most difficult to reach, consequently they were
frequently found in a dirty and most insanitary state, the water being covered with
green slime and containing dead rats, mice, beetles, stockings and children's shoes.
In one instance 20 living roach and dace were found in a cistern.
That in No. 14 Sanitary District (Inspector Callow's) the cisterns were
generally placed over the W.C.'s in the yards, and were therefore exposed to
pollution from soot, dust, &c., through defective covers.
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